"It's a delicate situation, but a la carte arbitration does not exist. Do not worry about me!"

Chair umpire Carlos Ramos during the US Open final.

Photo: AP

Ugly scenes marred the match at the Arthur Ashe Stadium on the weekend, as 23-time grand slam winner Serena Williams lost 2-6, 4-6 to Japan's Naomi Osaka, receiving three code violations in the process.

Williams, 36, was first warned for receiving coaching from the stands, before later being docked a point for smashing a racquet in the second set.

Williams, who was chasing a record-equalling 24th grand slam title, then received further punishment after verbally abusing the umpire, calling him a "thief" and a "liar" in a heated exchange that went on for some time - being docked an entire game penalty.

Osaka - a self-confessed Williams fan - went on to win her maiden grand slam amid unsavoury scenes in which she was jeered during the presentation ceremony and felt the need to apologise to the unhappy fans.

After Ramos had to be escorted off court, Williams used her post-match press conference to suggest that men avoid such punishment for similar on-court behaviour.

While the head of the US Tennis Association, Katrina Adams, said that both Williams and Ramos bore some responsibility for a situation that spiralled out of control, she believes there is a double standard at play when it comes to how male and female tennis players are treated.

"There is no equality when it comes to what the men are doing to the chair umpires and what the women are doing, and there has to be some consistency across the board at every level of officiating," Adams told ESPN.

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The fallout has continued to divide tennis fans, experts, officials and former players with The Times reporting that umpires may refuse to officiate in matches involving Williams until she apologises for her remarks.

An anonymous official told The Times said that the officials believed they were not getting sufficient support from governing bodies, and that Ramos was "thrown to the wolves for simply doing his job and was not willing to be abused for it".

Ramos was supported - albeit belatedly - by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), which said he acted with "professionalism and integrity" while the United States Tennis Association and Women's Tennis Association had earlier backed Williams' claims that she received unfair treatment.

But the ITF has further shown its support by putting Ramos in charge of the Davis Cup semi-final, which will be played over the weekend in Zadar, Croatia.